PPP lead in local bodies' by-polls

JI accuses ruling party in Sindh of 'stealing mandate'

KARACHI:

The by-elections on six local bodies' seats and one cantonment board seat in the six districts of Karachi concluded amid low voter turnout on Thursday.

Until last reports, PPP was leading while Jamaat Islami Karachi chief Munem Zafar Khan accused Sindh's ruling party of "using election commission official to steal the mandate."

The polling process was overall peaceful, barring few incidents of workers of rival parties chanting slogans against each other or coming to fisticuffs.

In one such incident, when Mayor Murtaza Wahab came to the polling station in Gizri, PTI workers started chanting slogans, however, he went on to hug them so as to calm down the tempers.

As per unofficial result of Ward 4 of District West Manghopir Town UC 5, candidate of Jamaat-e-Islami Irfan Umar won with 108 votes, while PPP candidate Muhammad Irfan managed to get only 32 votes, surprisingly only four more than independent candidate Shakeel Ahmed could catch.

The total number of voters in this ward was 2,617; out of which only 237 votes were declared valid and the turnout was 4.39%.

The situation at Ward 4 of Cantonment Board Korangi Creek was very contrasting to this, as PPP candidate Samir won there. He succeeded with 857 votes while independent candidate Danish Abbasi got 529 and Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Muneer Ahmed could claim only 26.

After visiting Gizri polling station Election Commissioner Sindh Sharifullah told The Express Tribune that satisfactory security arrangements are in place. Although, some disorder was reported on Murtaza Wahab's arrival but overall the situation was better and the polling was conducted in a peaceful manner. Election Commissioner Sindh and Additional IG Karachi visited the constituencies and reviewed the arrangements.

Polling for four chairman's seats, two vice chairman's and four ward member seats in Karachi started at 8am which continued till 5pm without any break. Only those who were inside the polling station were allowed to vote after the allotted time. Five candidates for Chairman of Malir Town UC 9, five candidates for Ibrahim Haidari Town UC 7 Ward 4, eight candidates for Vice Chairman of Landhi Town UC 6, 12 candidates for Chairman of Model Colony Town UC 7, seven candidates for Ward 1 of Korangi Town UC 7, seven candidates for Chairman of Saddar Town UC 13, five candidates for Ward 4 of Manghopir Town UC 5, six candidates for Vice Chairman of Gulberg Town UC 5 and competition between eight candidates for Liaquat Town UC 7 Chairman was held. Polling was also held for the seat of General Member of Ward 4 of Korangi Creek Cantonment Board.